The dependence of char and carbon yield on lignocellulosic precursor composition

✍ Scribed by D.M. Mackay; P.V. Roberts

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1982
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 795 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(82)90412-2

✦ Synopsis

A set of lignocellulosic precursors of widely varying composition was pyrolyzed under argon at WClmin to 500°C. Variation in the total mass and carbon yields among precursors was found to be due to variation in composition, i.e. distribution of the main organic components (lignin, holocellulose and extractives). Simple models for total mass and carbon yields of the precursors allowed determination by multiple regression analysis of the total mass and carbon yield of the components pyrolyzing in their native state in the lignocellulosic matrix. The component yields thus estimated were compared to results observed in studies of isolated components, such as reagent-grade cellulose. The char yield from lignin (53%) was found to be three times that of cellulose (18%) because of the higher initial carbon content in lignin (63 vs 44%) as well as the higher carbon yield (76 vs 40%).